Like Fred predicted, Dumbledore sai

Like Fred predicted, Dumbledore said nothing about the demised cat, though Filch was unusually angry… of course it was only unusual if one knew nothing about the fate of his cat. Harry and his friends decided it would be wise to stay away from the man and not get in trouble for the time being. After breakfast they caught up to Pansy and Draco and dragged the two Slytherins into an unused classroom, where they clued the two on the latest event. It was Draco who suggested that it could be Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets. The idea was a sound one, though the kids decided to only get involved on the research level. After all it was common knowledge that Slytherin left some sort of monster in his chamber, though no one knew what the monster was and more importantly, no one believed the chamber to really exist.

"I'm telling you, this has no business to be in the restricted section…" – said Draco when they were stuck in the library one evening – "We've already read what was written in 'Hogwarts: A History'. Do you really think we'll find anything else here?"

Neville shrugged:

"No idea. However I have no desire to write Gran and ask her about this. If you think a Family library is a better place, why don't you ask your father?"

Draco cringed. His father's activity as a Death Eater during the first rise of the Dark Lord was a common topic for his arguments with the Longbottom heir. Potter seemed to not care about Lucius' past, but Neville's parents were killed by Death Eaters, so he was rather touchy:

"Longbottom, your library probably has the same books as mine. So what's the deal with not wanting to ask your Gran?"

The slightly chubby Neville grimaced:

"She'll only say that it's a story and I should get such nonsense out of my head…" – he mumbled.

Draco winced in sympathy:

"Ouch… that would be unpleasant. Pans, how about you?"

The girl shrugged and looked from one boy to another:

"You know you two are totally useless, right?"

Neville nodded gravely and Draco gave her his best puppy dog eyes, though it only caused her to snicker:

"Puppy eyes, Draco? Seriously? I practically invented that look; it's not going to work. But still this mystery is important. I'll write daddy and ask if he knows anything."

"Thanks Pans…" – said Draco.

"Not so fast," – smirked Pansy – "I'll ask daddy… and you'll help me with the Potions essay."

This made both boys roll their eyes and snicker at how totally Slytherin Pansy was.

"Fine." – he said.


While his friends were busy researching and the twins were off doing who knows what, Harry was stuck in detention. Not only was the detention served with Lockhart, but the idiot had him helping with his fan mail. It was absolutely ridiculous, but it got Harry thinking – he was the 'Boy-Who-Lived', he was definitely more famous than his idiot of a teacher. Then why did he never receive any mail from anyone? Not that Harry wanted to get fan mail, but it was still weird. Thus he put it on his mental 'to-do' list. With a sigh he turned his attention back to Lockhart.

"… so you see, Harry, my boy, you really need to manage your fame correctly." – the peacock was saying – "I'm sure I can give you a few tips. For one, you always need to send at least a small note to thank for the attention, or gift. This will make sure your fans know that you care for them…"

Harry mentally rolled his eyes: 'Well, at least there is one thing he's good at… though I really don't appreciate him thinking of me as of some sort of apprentice in the fame department. That would surely give me a swift way back into Snape's black book… and I certainly don't need that.'

$Sso hungry… Come to me… Let me kill you…$ - the strange voice murmured, making Harry glance around warily. A look at Lockhart told the boy that either the voice was his hallucination, or Lockhart was too absorbed in his fan mail to pay attention. One way or another, Harry knew full well that hearing voices was a bad thing so he didn't mention the strange occurrence to the professor.

'I'm definitely telling the guys about this… I'm pretty sure I'm not crazy, so it's something strange happening… Still, no use telling this idiot… he'd be too stupid to notice a wall in front of him until he walked into it…' – he thought derisively as he wondered just when the peacock would remember that it was almost curfew and let him go already. Finally he just couldn't take any more of the torture:

"Professor Lockhart, sir?" – he asked sweetly, gagging inside.

"Yes, my boy?" – came the reply that caused Harry to bristle. He hated being called that. It was like the man was a pedophile or something.

"Sir, it's almost curfew."

"Oh, dear boy, you should have said told me earlier. But I suppose we just lost track of time, reading fan mail is interesting, isn't it?"

"Absolutely, professor." – Harry forced himself to say.

"Well then, you'd better run to your dorm."

With a nod Harry dashed out of the classroom as if the devil was after him. He was so busy running, that he didn't notice the man in front of him until he bowled him over.

"Ow.." – muttered Harry, as he rubbed his head – "Sorry for running into you." – he looked up and gulped in horror. He ran into his potions master.

Severus smirked inwardly, though it didn't show on his face:

"Mr. Potter…" – he drawled – "It's almost curfew and you're running around the castle… Why ever are you not in your Tower by now?"

"Professor Snape. I'm really sorry for running into you. I was on my way to the Tower, sir. My detention ran long." He made a face at the mention of his detention.

"Oh? Your detention did not agree with you?" – he asked casually as he helped the boy to get onto his feet.

"One can only endure so much that peacock's presence at one time…" – muttered Harry under his breath and then said louder – "Professor Lockhart had me help him answer his mail."

Had this happened the previous year, Severus would definitely go on a rant about how Harry must certainly enjoy his fame and love the attention, but things were different than last year and even though he was still very strict with the brat, he did not hate him. He also heard the mumbled part of the sentence and thus gave the young Gryffindor a slight smile:

"And does our famous professor have as many adoring fans as you do, Mr. Potter?"

Harry's first reaction was to take offence, but he noticed the small smile gracing the Potions Master's lips and understood that the wizard was actually teasing him:

"I'm not sure, it's not like I ever get any fan mail of my own..." – said the child – "… not that I actually want any… But it looks like it takes a lot of time. We spent 4 hours doing it and didn't even finish half of it."

Severus mentally snorted, though he did wonder how could the 'boy-who-lived' not get any mail from fans. That was practically impossible. Still, it was none of his business:

"Well then. I doubt Lockhart gave you a note." – here Harry cringed, expecting another detention – "Follow me, Mr. Potter, I shall take you to your Tower."

With that the man turned around and strode down the corridor. Harry shook his head in bewilderment and hurried after the retreating form of his professor. They were walking up the stairs, when Harry noticed a boy lying on the floor at the 3rd floor. He frowned and called out to his teacher:

"Professor Snape, sir?"

The man stopped and raised an inquiring eyebrow:

"Is something the matter, Mr. Potter?"

"There is a boy lying there." – Harry said flatly and pointed at the unmoving body. Snape paled slightly and quickly moved in the mentioned direction.

"Dear Merlin…" – murmured the man, as he examined the boy – "Just like that cat…" – he glanced at Harry – "Go to your Tower, Mr. Potter. Now."

Harry nodded and raced the stairs. Of course he wanted to know what was going on, but the urgency in Snape's voice persuaded him to do as asked.


When he arrived at the Tower, thankfully without running into Filch, he ran into Hermione, who was writing yet another essay. Harry noted that the girl looked rather miserable and tired with rings under her eyes. For a moment he even felt sorry for her. Then the girl saw him and glared at him:

"You! I know it's your fault!" – she snarled and Harry tensed – "What did you do to me? Tell me!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Granger." – he replied calmly, though on the inside he slowly began freaking out.

"You're lying!" – shrieked the girl, clearly hysterical – "How did you and Malfoy become so good all of the sudden?"

Harry pursed his lips and glared at his former friend who now looked like some escaped crazy person:

"Draco and I study a lot!" – he bit out – "Just because someone cursed you, doesn't give you a right to shriek at me."

The girl looked like she was ready to attack him, so Harry quickly escaped to his room, where he found Neville laughing and giggling, while Fred tickled him mercilessly. Harry put away his books and stripped out of the uniform.

"Hey guys!" – he said as he fell down onto his bed – "Where's George?"

"Oh?" – teased Fred – "Does little Harry only care for George? Are Neville and I not enough for you, oh Lord Potter?"

Harry rolled his eyes and snorted at the red head's antics:

"Oh no, the two of you are more than enough, but really, George is like… like an older brother – so responsible, caring and still fun and mischievous, while you two goofs are like younger siblings… but anyway, a student was attacked."

The two on Neville's bed instantly sobered and sat up:

"What do you mean attacked?" – demanded Fred – "Attacked how? By who?"

Harry shrugged:

"No idea. Snape was walking me to the Tower, since it was close to the curfew. I spotted the body on the third floor near the staircase, so I pointed it out to Snape. He told me to go to the Tower, so I decided it was a good idea and went back… oh and I was harassed by Granger just now."

Just then George came i